(Cass Co) The Cass County Board of Supervisors this morning approved the third and final reading of a resolution declaring Emergency Medical Services an Essential Service.
The approval followed a public hearing. Cass County Emergency Management Director Mike Kennon spoke again in support of the resolution. He said EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement, and Dispatch work together to provide critical services in a disaster response and recovery.
Erik Johnson, who works full time for EMS in Atlantic, also supports the EMS levy.
With declaring EMS an essential service, the board can now put an item on the ballot to let the public vote on implementing a tax to fund EMS. Supervisor Steve Green reiterated that this is not all new taxation.
The Supervisors then approved a resolution establishing the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council and directing them to advise on both cost and funding. Members of the EMS Advisory Council include:
Cass Health – Dr. Elaine Berry
Anita – Brian Wendt
Anita – Molly Denny
Atlantic Fire Department – Bob Reynolds
Atlantic Fire Department – Tom Cappel
Cumberland – Madison Lund
Cumberland – Ericka Stender
Griswold – Brad Amos
Griswold – JC Wyman
Griswold – Jared Wyman
Lewis – Julie Kline
Lewis – Terry Erickson
Marne – Josh Krause
Marne – Aaron Williams
Massena – Alisa Kool
Board of Supervisors – Steve Green
EMA – Mike Kennon
Cass First Aid – Erik Johnson
